Clothes refreshing apparatus and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A fabric refreshing apparatus is provided. The refreshing apparatus may include a case, and a receiving compartment, provided in the case to receive fabric articles. The apparatus may also include a steam generator, a fluid supply tank, and a drain tank. The steam generator supplies steam to receiving compartment to steam the fabric articles. The fluid supply tank supplies fluid the steam generator. The drain tank collects residual fluid from the steam generator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fabric refreshing apparatus, comprising:
 a case comprising an inner case that defines a receiving compartment and an outer case that surrounds the inner case; 
 a steam generator configured to supply steam to the receiving compartment; 
 a fluid supply configured to supply fluid to the steam generator; 
 a drain configured to collect residual fluid from the steam generator; 
 a condenser comprising a passage formed at a rear of the inner case, between the inner case and the outer case, and configured to condense air discharged from the receiving compartment; and 
 a partition wall provided at a top portion of the case extending between the inner and outer cases, wherein the partition wall is configured to direct air discharged from the receiving compartment into the condenser and to prevent air discharged from the receiving compartment from flowing into a top portion of the case formed between the inner and outer cases. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein fluid from the fluid supply is drawn into the steam generator by gravity, and fluid from the steam generator is drawn into the drain by gravity. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply, the steam generator and the drain are vertically stacked relative to the case. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid supply is positioned above the steam generator and the steam generator is positioned above the drain. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply, the steam generator and the drain are positioned on one side of the case. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drain is configured to receive condensed fluid from the condenser. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of guide ribs, wherein the guide ribs extend between the inner and outer cases, and wherein the guide ribs are configured to prevent air discharged from the receiving compartment and air flowing through the condenser from flowing into opposite side portions of the case formed between the inner and outer cases. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of guide ribs extend from opposite ends of the partition wall and downward along opposite vertical sides of the condenser. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein lower ends of the guide ribs are slanted towards a central rear portion of the case so as to direct fluid through a discharge port and into the drain. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser further comprises a plurality of first condensation pins provided with the inner case and a plurality of second condensation pins provided with the outer case. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first condensation pins extend outward from an outer rear surface of the inner case towards the outer case, and the plurality of second condensation pins extend outward from an inner rear surface of the outer case towards the inner case. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first condensation pins are substantially aligned with the plurality of second condensation pins so as to form a zig zag pattern in the passage. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the outer rear surface of the inner case and the inner rear surface of the outer case together with the plurality of first and second condensation pins respectively formed thereon define a heat exchange area of the condenser. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection part configured to connect the fluid supply to the drain. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid supply, the connection part and the drain are integrally formed. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid supply comprises a pump configured to supply fluid to the steam generator. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply comprises a tank that is detachably coupled to the case. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the drain comprises a tank having a grip hole provided on a front portion thereof. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a drying duct provided between the fluid supply and the steam generator, wherein the drying duct is configured to supply hot air to the receiving compartment during a drying operation. 
     
     
       20. A fabric refreshing apparatus, comprising:
 a case comprising an inner case that defines a receiving compartment and an outer case that surrounds the inner case; 
 a steam generator configured to supply steam to the receiving compartment; 
 a fluid supply configured to supply fluid to the steam generator; 
 a drain configured to collect residual fluid from the steam generator; and 
 a condenser, comprising:
 a passage formed at a rear of the inner case, between the inner case and the outer case, and configured to condense air discharged from the receiving compartment; 
 a plurality of first condensation pins provided with the inner case; and 
 a plurality of second condensation pins provided with the outer case.